CDR2L

Cerebellar Degeneration-Related Protein 2-Like (CDR2L), encoded by the CDR2L gene, is a cytoplasmic autoantigen linked to paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD). It has no widely recognized alternative aliases. Autoantibodies against CDR2L target cerebellar Purkinje cells, causing ataxia, tremors, and gait abnormalities—symptoms often associated with underlying malignancies like ovarian or small-cell lung cancer.
CDR2L’s exact signaling pathways remain incompletely characterized, but its role in immune-mediated neuronal damage is well-documented. Current treatments for CDR2L-associated PCD include immunosuppressive agents such as rituximab to reduce autoantibody levels, though no CDR2L-specific drugs are approved. Ongoing research explores targeted immunotherapies to mitigate neuronal harm and improve clinical outcomes.